Hospitals in Maryland are seeing impressive progress in reducing readmission rates and preventing patient harm from hospital-acquired infections, medication errors and other safety events, according to a report released last week by the state's hospital association.
The Maryland Hospital Association's 2014 report on quality examined how a total of 67 acute-care hospitals, specialty hospitals and health systems in the state performed on various quality metrics, based on their voluntary participation in collaborative efforts led by the MHA.
Among the findings, of 150 hospital units participating in a program to eliminate bloodstream infections, 90% reported having zero central-line-associated bloodstream infections per month in 2014. Of 130 units participating in a program to address the unnecessary use of catheters and their associated infections, 83% reported zero infections each month.
The report found that between 2010 and 2014, compliance with hand-hygiene protocols jumped from 71% to 90% for participants in the statewide collaborative.
Among 36 acute-care hospitals and one specialty hospital participating in a care-transition program to reduce 30-day readmissions, those rates dropped by more than 4% between 2013 and 2014.
